The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-12-23
A Proposed New Road Law.

met in Bel Air on Monday aud discussed tue
provisions of proposed new road law for
Hartford county, which is to be submitted
for the consideration Of the public at a meet
ing called to take place in Bel Air on the I'd
of January next.
The bill provides hat at the congressional
election in 1888 three competent and judi
cious freeholders, citizens of Hartford county,"
slull be elected to serve us Road Commits
sioners. The Que receiving the highest num-
Der of votes to serve until 1893; the one re-
ceiving the next highest number of votes to
serve until 1891, and the one receiving the
next highest number of votes to serve until
1889.
In 1889 and at each succeeding general
election one road commissioner to be elected
for six years, so that every two years II
change will be made in the composition of
the board.
These Road Commissioners are to have
control of the work of repairing the roads
and bfidges of the county, and of opening
such new roads and constructing such bridges
MS the County Commissioners shall direct to
be opened or constructed.
They are to choose. after careful examl.
nation and inquiry into his competency,
! ability and general fitness, civil engineer
and experienced road member" at a salary OF
not more than So 900 year, who shall hold
his Office at the pleasure of the board. This
10 ~, ba ranuirn1 To Jountp hic antira
time and attention to the duties of his office
to inspect all the roads and bridges of each
election district at least twice in each year,
and report to the board each moRh-special-
ly of the condition of the roads of one district
and generally of the roads of other districts.
This Road Engineer is to apportion the
roads and bridges and name the persons 10
repair them, under his direction. The Coun-
ty Commissioners to approve or reject the
nominations made by the said engineer.
| The bill provides that after examining tie
work done by each supervisor he shall certify
the same upon the supervisors account, with
his approval or disapproval of the character
of the work done and amount charged for
the same.
The engineer is also to serve as Secretary
to the Road Commissioners without extra
pay.
The Road Commissioners are to publish,
before the 1st of April, each year, detailed
account of their receipts and expenditures
and an estimate of the probable cost of re-
pairing and maintaining the county roads
and bridges for the ensuing year. and present
these accounts and estimates to the board of
County Commissioners, who are to levy not
less than sixteen cents on the 800 of assessed
property for the repairs of roads and bridges,
and as much more as the said County Com
missoners may deem necessary and judicious
The amount so collected by taxation is to
be known rs the "road fund.-" and is 10 remain
in the hands of the County Commissioners,
by whom all road accounts are to be paid,
upon drafts signed by the Road Commission
ers and approved by the Road Engineer.
In opening new roads the engineer is to be
one of the three examiners appointed by the
County Commissioners.
The salary of the Road Commissioners to
be 81 per day, when actually in session.
They shall meet on the first Monday in each
month and shall not hold a session of more
than two consecutive days. Their accounts
to be open to inspection and examination by
the County Commissioners or any one ap-
pointed by them.
Provision is also made for the use of road.
scrapers and other improved road machinery
sure better roads.
1t is also provided that where private in
dividuas contribute sum of money for the
improvement Of a certain part of a public
road the County Commissioners shall levy an
equal amount for the same purpose, provided
the Road Commissioners approve the same,
the money TO be expended under the super.
vision of the Road Engineer.
The above is merely an outline of the main
features of the bill proposed. 1t will be seen
that it does not take the work of mending
the roads out of the hands of the farmers liv-
ing adjacent to them, bit instead of five SUI
pervisors the entire duty of looking after the
roads is given to one man. 1t may be urged
that this is more work than one man can pro-
perly perform, but it is believed by men of
good judgment that the right kind of man
can and would perform all the duties required
of him.
The most important change proposed by
the bill is in the manner of giving out the
road warrants. 1t provides that they shall
be given out by the Road Engineer, subject
to the approval of the County Commission
ers. Under the present system they are
given out in each district by the General Su-
pervisor, under the direction of the County
Commissioner for the district.
The new plan, while it relieves the County
Commissioners from troublesome part of
their duties, leaves them to hold the county
purse-strings and thus to prevent eXtrava-
gance on the part of the road board. | he
change of system, as far as the public is con-
cerned, would not be perceived except in in
creased efficiency on the part of road members
and a more rapid improvement in our public
thoroughfares. At any rate the plan pro-
posed Is worth trial 1t will cost no more
than is spent at present, and the work. in
most cases, will be done by the same persons
who do it now. The only difference will be
that our roads will be repaired under com.
petent supervision, which is not always the
case at present
The Postal Telegraph Scheme.
Petitions have been circulated in Bel Air
and have received many signatures, asking